Dental tray and support

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a dental tray support mounted on a single link member which can be rotated or translated in a horizontal plane, the tray support, when not in use, fitting flush with the top of an existing dental cabinet so that the tray support appears to be the top of the cabinet.

United States Patent La Force et a].

[4 1 June 6, 1972 DENTAL TRAY AND SUPPORT Walter P. La Force, Penfield; Glen A. Woodhams, Rochester, both of N.Y.

Inventors:

Assignee: Sybron Corporation, Rochester, N.Y.

Filed: Oct. 29, 1970 Appl. No.: 84,975

US. Cl ..32/22 Int. Cl ....A6lc 1 1/00 Field of Search ..32/22; 297/68 [56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 568,957 11/1957 Italy ..32/22 Primary Examiner-Robert Peshock Attorney-Theodore B. Roessel [5 7] ABSTRACT Disclosed is a dental tray support mounted on a single link member which can be rotated or translated in a horizontal plane, the tray support, when not in use, fitting flush with the top of an existing dental cabinet so that the tray support appears to be the top of the cabinet.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUN 6I972 3,667,124

INVENTORS FIG 4 WALTER P. LA FORCE GLEN A. WOODHAMS ATTOR NEY DENTAL TRAY AND SUPPORT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION dental cabinet, the tray being movable in a horizontal plane about the cabinet and when not in use giving the appearance of being the top of the dental cabinet.

In practice, dentists usually prefer to locate the tray for hand instruments and the like as close as possible to the patients oral cavity. However, in the practice known as fourhanded sit-down dentistry, finding room for a tray and support arm has become a design problem. In this respect, in fourhanded dentistry, the dentist and assistant are seated on either side of the patient with the respective instruments used by each being contained in small mobile dental consoles. This leaves little room for the conventional dental stand and tray support. One solution to this problem has been to suspend the tray from the ceiling of the dental operatory. However, such a structure not only is unslightly in appearance and may be unnerving to some patients but there is also the danger of colliding with the suspended structure. Another attempted solution has been to mount the tray so as to slide out from fixed cabinetry behind the patient. However, this is inconvenient in that the dentist must turn or leave his operating position in order to remove or replace hand instruments onto the tray.

In the present invention, the dental tray is incorporated into the top of a mobile unit. When the tray is not in use, it maybe positioned so that it appears to be the top of the unit. The tray is attached to the unit by a simple one link connection which permits extension from and rotation about the unit in a horizontal plane to a position most convenient for the dentist and his assistant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The resent invention may be characterized in one aspect thereof by a mobile dental unit wherein the top of the unit comprises a tray which may be extended from and rotated in a horizontal plane about the unit. The tray is mounted to the cabinet by a single link which is journaled at one end to the tray and which has an elongated slot embracing a journal on the top of the cabinet wherein the elongated slot permits both rotation and translation of the tray with respect to the unit.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a dental tray and support which can be mounted to an existing dental unit wherein the tray becomes an extension of the top of the unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tray and support wherein the support is a single link which permits both rotation and translation of the tray in a horizontal plane about a supporting structure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a dental tray and support wherein the support, comprising a single link with two pivots, permits both translation and rotation of the tray about a supporting structure.

These and other objects, advantages and characterizing features of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description thereof when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile dental unit with the tray of the present invention in a stored position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the upper portion of the dental unit showing the tray in an extended position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view partly broken away and in section of the upper portion of the dental unit; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the dental unit with the tray removed to more clearly show the supporting link in a stored position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a typical mobile dental unit indicated at 10 which contains the various drills, syringes and the like 12 which may be used by the dentist or his assistant. The unit may be mounted on wheels 14 or a suitable movable platform with a handle 16 for moving the unit into position. In the present invention, the top 18 of the unit comprises a tray portion which can be extended from and rotated about the unit as desired by the dentist and which gives the appearance, when not in use, ofbeing an integral part of the dental unit. For this purpose, it is preferred that the dimensions of the tray correspond with the length and width of the unit and that the finish and texture of the tray be similar to the finish and texture of the unit.

Referring to FIG. 2, the extendable top or tray 18 is shown in a horizontally adjusted position from the unit 10. Since unit 10 is designed primarily for sit-down dentistry, the overall height of the unit should not be so great as to present the instruments at an inconvenient height to the seated dentist. For this reason, the tray 18 being already located at a level, which would be relatively convenient to the seated dentist, does not require a height adjusting support mechanism. Accordingly, the tray support mechanism generally indicated at 20 described herein supports the tray 18 for movement in a horizontal plane only about the actual top 18' of the dental unit.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the support mechanism 20 includes a single elongated link 22, one end 24 of the link being journaled to the underside of tray 18 adjacent the front end 26 of the tray (FIG. 3). The link itself is journaled to the unit top 18 by a bearing member 28 which is slightly offset from center towards the front of the unit. The link is formed with an elongated slot 30 which embraces bearing 28 permitting the link to both rotate and translate with respect to the bearing.

Thus, to extend tray 18 from unit 10, the tray is simply pulled to slide link 22 with respect to hearing 28. The link can also be rotated about bearing 28 and the tray 18 rotated on its journal about the forward end 24 of the link thereby providing additional degrees of motion in a horizontal plane.

To return tray 18 to its stored position, it is merely pushed back towards top 18' of unit 20. Since tray 18 and unit top 18 have substantially the same plan view configuration, the tray in its stored position is superimposed over top 18 so that the tray and unit top appears to be integral.

In order to insure that tray 18 is located in its stored position directly over cabinet 10 so as to give the appearance of being the top of the cabinet, FIGS. 3 and 4 show a locating means generally indicated at 32 which has been provided for this purpose. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, this locating means 32 comprises a locating pin or stop 34 carried by the unit 10 and a nesting member 36 carried by tray 18. Member 36 is generally V-shaped in cross section so that as the tray is pushed into a stored position, the nest 36 will capture pin 34 to locate the tray in a correct alignment with respect to cabinet 10.

Thus, it should be appreciated that the present invention accomplishes its intended objects in providing a tray and support mechanism which is simple and easy to operate, takes up a minimum of space and which permits a wide degree of motion for the tray in a horizontal plane.

It should be understood that the term "tray 18 should not be limited to an actual instrument holder but that this term is also intended to mean a support platform on which a more conventional instrument tray is placed during use.

Having thus described the invention in detail, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a dental unit and tray combination, wherein the unit has a flat top and the tray is journaled on one end of an elongated link having a slot therein for slidably embracing a bearing member on the unit top to permit the extension of said tray and from, and Nation about Said uni! p the p Ovemem b. said tray having a length and width corresponding to the prising: length and width of said unit top, whereby said tray, when cooperating locating means on Said unit top and the lower in said stored position appears to be the top of said unit.

surface of said tray for positioning Said tray in a stored 5 2 A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said posmon Superimposed over means elements is a pin upstanding from said unit top and the other eluding a first element upstanding from said unit top and a second element depending from the underside of said tray, one of said elements being adapted to capture the other as said tray is moved towards said stored position;

of said elements is a generally V-shaped nest depending from the lower surface of said tray. 

1. In a dental unit and tray combination, wherein the unit has a flat top and the tray is journaled on one end of an elongated link having a slot therein for slidably embracing a bearing member on the unit top to permit the extension of said tray from, and rotation about said unit top, the improvement comprising: a. cooperating locating means on said unit top and the lower surface of said tray for positioning said tray in a stored position superimposed over said unit top, said means including a first element upstanding from said unit top and a second element depending from the underside of said tray, one of said elements being adapted to capture the other as said tray is moved towards said stored position; and b. said tray having a length and width corresponding to the length and width of said unit top, whereby said tray, when in said stored position appears to be the top of said unit.
 2. A combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of said elements is a pin upstanding from said unit top and the other of said elements is a generally V-shaped nest depending from the lower surface of said tray. 